Policeman sues his police force for racial discrimination after colleagues refer to Romany Gypsies as 'Travellers'

From the Daily Mail

A policeman is suing his bosses after colleagues allegedly offended him by referring to Romany people as 'Travellers'.

Jim Davies, an Englishman of Romany descent, accuses police staff of using the word 'pikey' to describe other members of the Romany community.

The speed enforcement officer is suing Thames Valley Police for racial discrimination over the use of the terms.

He outlined his case at a preliminary hearing today, where a panel is set to rule which parts of his evidence will be admissable at the full tribunal.

The officer, who lives in Brackley, Northamptonshire, told the hearing in reading that he was offended by hearing Romany people described as 'Travellers'.

He claimed the term had been 'institutionalised' at the force over the 20 years he has worked there, and was a discriminatory reference to his own ethnicity.

Mr Davies said he could not remember the details of every alleged use of the word, but insisted that it was used 'on a frequent basis.'

At the preliminary hearing, a section from Mr Davies' claim was read out that said: 'I have continuously witnessed colleagues making offensive comments about Travellers.'

He also claimed colleagues used the word 'pikey' as a derogatory term for Romany people.

A representative of Thames Valley Police argued that the use of the word 'Traveller' referred to the whole community, not just those of Romany origin.

James Arnold told the panel: 'What we have got is a generic use of the word Traveller to describe those people living on Traveller sites, regardless of ethnicity.'

However, the claimant is to argue that there were incidents when the term was used in a more specific context when it was likely to refer to Romany people.

Members of the Romany community are legally protected from unfair treatment under laws forbidding racial discrimination.